Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault
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Men's pole vault at the Games of the XIV Olympiad | ||||||||||
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Venue | Wembley Stadium | |||||||||
Dates | July 31 (qualifying) August 2 (final) | |||||||||
Competitors | 19 from 10 nations | |||||||||
Winning height | 4.30 | |||||||||
Medalists | ||||||||||
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The men's pole vault event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1948 Summer Olympics. Nineteen athletes from 10 nations competed.[1] The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The competition was held on July 31 and August 2. During the final, a rainstorm came in during the jumps at 4.10. All the jumpers at 4.20 and higher had to deal with wet conditions on the runway and with their poles. The final was won by American Guinn Smith. Erkki Kataja had held the lead with a perfect set of jumps until Smith's last attempt clearance of 4.30.[2] Smith's win was the United States' 11th consecutive victory in the men's pole vault. Kataja's silver was Finland's first medal in the event.